Detachable body



Feb. 7, 1933.

R. E. SMITH DETACHABLE BODY l0, 1930 2 SheetSSheet l Filed Feb.

R. E. SMITH DETACHABLE BODY Filed Feb.

Feb. 7', 1933.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE :RALPH E. SMITH, OF GALION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GALION -METAILIC VA'ULT CO., f"

OF GALION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO i DETACHABLE BODY Application med February 1o, 1930. serial No. 427,144.

This invention relates to improvements in detachable bodies adapted to be used as a light weight slip-on or pick-up body to be used onlight trucks. l

It is particularly the object of this invention to provide a light weight, detachable body consisting of four essential parts; two sides, a bottom and an end, each formed of a piece of sheet metal and welded together for the purpose of forming a complete body.

It is also an ob]- ect of this invention, in con'- nection with a detachable body formed of separate pieces of sheet metal united by weld-k ing, to extend beyond the margins of the body certain parts of the component pieces of the body for the formation of strengthening brackets.v

Itis also-an object of this invention to provide, in connection with the joints uniting the parts, braces united to the parts by welding.

Itis also an ob] ect of this invention to provide a detachable truck body having sidesl with flared upper edges and stake holes in the flared edges in line with stake loops on the sides. A

These and other objects will appear from thedescription taken in connection with the drawings. v

Referring to the drawings: Y Figure 1 is aside elevation o-f the body detached from the truck. w v

Figure 2 is a rear end vView. showing the gate in raised position.

Figure?) isa section on the line 3-3of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial longitudinal section showing the front end .of the body and the bottom support and brace therefor.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a detachable body composed essentially of four pieces of sheet metal, all of which are rectangular or .substantially so, Each side 1 of this body is'y formed of a single piece of sheet metal, rectangular in shape, having along kone side thereof a fiange 2 to form a strengthening flange on the bottom of the body. The other edge of the side is bent outward, as indicated by the numeral 3, to form a flared part of the upper part of the body.

The outer edge of this side member is bent downward, as indicated by the numeral 4, substantially at a right angle to the part 3. `The part 4 is also bent, Vas indicatedy by the numeral 5, to form a flange substantiallyparallel to the part indicated by the numeral 3 and at a right angle to thev part indicated by the numeral 4. By this means there is formed a side member adapted to resist pressure and form a` permanent `.and lasting side'for the body.

The front end 6 of the body is formed by a substantially rectangular piece of sheet metal, beings'omewhat longer at the upper edge-v of the body than at the lower edge to form end braces 7. The lower edge of this end part is bent in to forma bottom fiange 10, while the top is first folded over in a substantially horizontal position 8, and then downward as indicated by the nume-ral 9. The ends ofthe side members are welded to the end member so that these parts form a continuous body of sheet meta 'The parts 8 and 9 are likewise welded to the iiared upper edges of the sides so that these upper edges are thoroughly strengthened by the end. Thebottom 11 of the body is likewise composed of a rectangular'sheet of metal, which has on vitsV side edges turned down flanges 12,

vwhichare united to the sides by welding so i that this `bottom is integrally formed with the sides. The front end of the bottom is welded tothe end 6 and supported by an angle iron 12"welded to the'end and the bottom. The bottom is corrugated, as indicated by the strengthening ribs. The flanges 12 not only afford means for attaching the bottom to the vnumeral 13 to form longitudinally arrangedf sides and end, but also form lbrace means to more rigidly hold the sides and end in proper position. i

F-or the purpose of strengthening the union between 'the sides and the end there are angular braces 14 located in the corner formed by these members,"and united toA them by weld# ing. These angular braces not only serve to unite these parts together more firmly but alsoserve'the Vpurpose of making'this part of the body stronger and more rigid so that the bodyas a whole will' the better resist hard usage. 1

The general shape 4of the under part of the accommodates bolts for attachment purposes.V

To cooperate with the iiange 2 there is arranged transverse the body, near the rear, a channel iron 15, which is welded both to the sides and the bot-tom for giving strength and rigidity to the part of the bodyyto which it is attached and also to al'ord means by which the body may be attached to the frame of the trucln For this purpose there is also provided in one of the flanges of the channel iron, holes to receive bolts` forming part of the truck frame. l Y f A yIn order to lassistin strengthening the upper corners of the body there is attached theretobrace straps 16. These straps may be welded or they may be attached thereto by rivets or bolts. To the rear end of the body and tol each'rear end of the side there is welded a brace member 17, shown in Figure 2. This brace member is on the outside of the body and lits withinvthe rectangular space formed by the upper edge of the body member. These braces are welded to the side members so that they are integral therewith, forming' a rigid rear end structure. These brace members are somewhat' angular in 35 shape, with the lowerlateral arm extending upwardly to form a horizontal ledge or seat v18. to which one end of an angle iron gate sill 19 is attached. These parts are all welded together so as to form one solid structure.

- To'each end of the gate sill and corresponding part of the brace is attached a gate hinge 20 by means of bolts or rivets. In the present instance bolts are shown to be used. kThe gate itself is indicated by the numeral 21, and is formed of a rectangular piece of sheet metal folded at each edge to form rectangular strengthening ribs 22, while at each end of the gate'there is attached by means of vwelding an angle iron 23 which forms with the ribs 22 a frame structure surrounding the periphery of the gate.

Extending from each end of the lower edge of the gate is a pivot pin 24:, which engages the hinge member 20 so that the gate may be raised and lowered, as indicated in Figure 2. For the purpose of holding the gate in locked position there is provided a bracket 25 having holes therein corresponding with similar holes in the'angle irons 23 at each end of the gate, in which there lits a hook 26. When the hook is in the posit? on shown in Figure 2 the gate is heldin closed position against the rear endof the body. This hook may be slipped out of the holes and back intothe 565 hole in the gate so that the gate may drop down and be supported in a substantiall horizontal position by means of a chain 2? attached at one end to the hook 26 and at the other end to a pin or bolt 28 in the upper rear end of the body. There are two of these chains and'hooks for the-purposel of holding each end of the gate in either locked or horizontal position.

As sho-wn in Figure 1 each side member is provided with a hole 29 at each'end` of the body, and in line with each hole is a loop 30. Each loop and its corresponding hole receives a' standard to support any additional load that may be placed upon the body. The standard is supported in these members and prevented from 'wobbling or slipping 'down because of the peculiar structure of the standard'at the point where it engagesthe loop It will be observed from the foregoing that applicant vhas produced a detachable body composed of a solid piece of metal, with .the exception of the end gate and its immediate supporting structure. These r parts are formed so that the body is strengthened longitudinally by means of a corrugated bottom and by means of flanges on the side members. It is also strengthened transversely by means of flanges on the end and alsoby means of the transverse channelnbar. There is here produced a body that is simple, relatively light, rigid in structure, capable ofenduring hardship and rough usage and meeting all kinds of demands and needs. There is also produced a body that may be easily placed on'and removed from the frame of a truck. The only thing necessary is to remove a few rbolts by which the body is attached to the frame of an automobile. This may be done in a few minutes. r

I desire to .comprehend within my inven tion such modifications as may be clearly embraced within my claims and the scope of my invention. y

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is r' p 1. In a detachable truck body, sidev members, an end member welded at each end to one oi the side members, a brace piece welded'to each side member and to the end member at their line of union, said side members and end member having straight sides termi# nating in inturned flanges on theirV lower edges, a transverse channel iron member resting on the flanges of the side members and welded tothe side member,'a corrugated bottom resting on said channel iron member andY welded thereto and to the side and end members, and an angle iron welded to the end member, the side members and to the bottom for supporting one end of the bottom. y

2. In a detachable truck body, side members, an end member welded at'each end to one of the side members, a brace piece welded to each side member and to the end member at their line of union, said side members and end member having straight sides terminating in inturned flanges on their lower edges, a transverse channel iron member resting on the anges of the side members and Welded to the side members, a corrugated bottom resting adjacent one end on said channel iron member and Welded thereto and to the side and end members, an angle iron Welded to the end member, the side members and to the bottom for supporting the other end of the bottom, a laterally extending brace member Welded to the other end of each of the side` members, and a gate sill Welded to saidvlateral brace members.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my si nature.

RALPH E. S 1TH. 

